The Portland daily press., 1887-07-25
COSTLY HoNoRs.
The Salaries too Small for the Expen.
ses of Washington Life.
IN. Y. Mail and Exnress. !

ses of Washington Life.
IN. Y. Mail and Express.l
There is one feature of his escape from
public life that especially pleases ex Secre-
tsry Daniel Manning, Mr.. Manning hadbeen
paying some eight or ten thousand dollars a
year out Of his own pocket for the honor and
responsibility there were in the office of the
Secretary of the Treasury.
How do you make that out? will be asked.
His salary was $1,000 year, and he ought
to have been able to live on that. But he
wasn't, nor has any Secretary of the Treas
ury, who met the social requirements that
that office entails been able to live on the
salary II he had family. Mr.. Manning gave
up place as president of an Albany bank
and salary of $1,000 to accept the Treas
ury. He also was obliged to resign his active
duties as president of the Albany Argus Com
pany, and, it is understood, gave up the sal
airy, too, which was 5000 more. He was
then receiving $4,000 In yearly salaries
when he reluctantly accepted the Treasury
portfolio. The net cost then to him was
$1,000. But he maintained an establishment
In Washington that cost not far from clean
tho usand month, and his other expenses,
personal, political-he was always liberal
glver for political purposes-were not far
from $1,000 year more. 1t cost him, there
fore, not far from $1,000 year while he
was in Washington. That meant going to
his private income for 81, 900 or 5000 year.
Though Mr.. Manning Is comfortably off Ia
fortune, his income from his property Is not
believed to be as much as this sum- Now see
the diiference. lie Is president of great
L. rlro IL.
hours day, and works without worry. He
receives Sl5,Q00 year, and it doesn't cost
nm more than half Of that live. He saves
ms income from investment; he puts by half
ms salary xhe is making money instead of
losing trand he will be some $4,000 better
OIL at We end of Cleyeland's term than he
%6dld have been had he staid in the Treas
Jury.
Mr.. Manning's experience suggests that of
many others, some Of which have been de-
scrlbed to me by the men who had them
Only few days ago newly-elected member
OF Congress said to me:
Il have given up permanent place, with
salary somewhat larger than that OF menu
berot Congress. presume if don't tread
ON too many Of my constituents toes | can
be rcnominated, and my district is sure to be
carried by my party, That will give me at
least four years in Congress and 100000
Can i save half of that?'
told him he could, but that it would re-
quire self-denial, almost entire abstention
from social enjoyment, and satisfaction with
humble quarters and plain food. AS rule
none but the rich or very poor ought to ac-
cept Office of any kind in Washington. The
rich can spend money; the very poor are not
expected to do So but the men Of moderate
means. small incomes, who have been accus-
toned to some of the Injuries of life, are very
fortunate II they make their salaries and
their expenses meet.
Senator Nc Creery, who some years ago
represented Kentucky in EOnOrQqe vpac 20
puted to have saved some $4,000 out. of-S75,-
600 that he received in salaries. But he lived
in the utmost frugality. There was cheap
hotel In Georgetown, whose rates were some
}? week for board and lodging, and here
McCrcefy lived. He wsnld walk from this
place to the Capitol and back every day,
thus saving dollar VI 80 u week in ear fare
and his personal expenses were Insignificant
None or his salary went to hackmen, to
florists, to Wormley or Chamberlain; he new
er played poker and never went to the thea
tire, and when he quit Congress he had enough
to live on for the rest Of his days.
A Representative from one Of the New
England States has served twelve years, and
Is believed to have saved $4,000 Of the $780,
900 salary he has received. But his habits
were simple; he boarded at second rate
hotel, his family remained at home and he
spent his evenings playing whist when at
leisure, and had no more expensive habit
tnan the taking OF single toddy just at bed
time.
A Missouri member was obliged TO decline
q denomination some four years ago because
he found that in spite of all he could do he
was running behind $1,000 or $4,000 each
year, though he practised law in his vaca-
Said he to me when asked him why he
had declined to como back, especially when
ne seemed just about to win high esteem in
Congress-
II can't stand 1t to see my wife walking
q oil 10 IIrun x.A ~ - r. =.
carriage, aud she can't either. can't stand
II to 60 with her ON foot to reception and
see Blank and his wife step out of a carriage,
and It costs me more than my salary every
year because can't: / anu going home to
make my fortune. When get rich enough
back"
Gen. Collins. the brilliant Irish-American
member from Boston, told me that he trenl-
Dled to think what 1t was costing him to
serve in Congress. He did not dare face the
figure. His actual expenses exceeded his
income, and his splendid law practise in
Boston was threatened. He determined not
to run again, and it went abroad that he had
Qnarrelledwith President Cleveland because
OF some question Of. patronage. This was
not the reason. He declined because he
could not afford to go to Congress.
1t cost William Il. Chandler some $4,000
more than he got back in salary to be Secre-
tary Of the Navy, though he probably looked
upOn tHc tApcilultuIS DIS ~ SOOu Investment,
as the office gave him a prestige without
which he could not have been elected Sena-
tor. Buthe once said he would have been
many dollars better off had he been confirmed
70, the office Of Solicitor-General by, the
Senate in 1881. The office paid nearly as
much AS a Cabinet place does. and the social
requirements are very slight
1t is impossible to hold a Cabinet Office and
live at all in social life without going outside
the salary. There has been some disposition
m emilia ot Caporo1 I'll
per Of life, but 1t is the only one feasible to a
Cabinet officer who wishes to live within his
salary. Mr.. Bayard is not rich man, though
he has property investments that bring him
an income Of some $4,000, a year But it
must take every cent of this, added to his
salary, to support him. None but a rich man
can afford to take the Office of Secretary of
State. Senator Wilson, of Iowa, once de-
clined the place because he could not afford
to take it. lie also declined to 60 again to
the House of Representatives because, he
said, he had a competency to make. de had
especial advantages while member of the
House. He ranked with Blaine and Conk-
ling, and Allison and Garfield, and the other
younger men who made themselves felt in
that body. He had the especial favor of
PRESIDENT Grant But he faced the situation
Doldiy' lie saw that he could stay in Con-
gress as long as he chose, probably, but that
as long as ne did would be dependent upon
MS salary Tor support He decided to quit,
ana ne returned to Iowa, built up his prac-
tlce, made comfortable fortune, and when
he had done this was ready to take a seat in
the Senate.
There is no telling how far Secretary Fish,s
splendid hospitalities aided Grants admins
tration in happy settlements of complications
with Great Britain and Spain. 1t is a beg
carly salary for such an office-$S, 900 a wear.
The man who is capable of performing the
delicate duties of the Office is capable of
earning four or five times that sum in bust
ness or professional life. The result is that
none but wealthy man can afford to take
the Office A poor man either ought not 70
have the place OF ought not to be expected to
take it. IL he is worthy of filling it the sac
rifce is too great to ask of any man.